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Home Heating - Tips for Reducing Your Home Heating Bill

Heating costs are steadily on the rise. This article offers tips on reducing your home heating bill.

With energy costs on the rise, people everywhere are looking for ways they can reduce heating costs. Though you can't do anything about the price of natural gas, fuel or electricity, there are other options. If you want to reduce your home heating bill, here are some tips that may help:

  • If you want to reduce your heat bill, keep the thermostat turned down! If you get cold, throw on an extra layer of clothes or snuggle up under a blanket before you turn up the heat.
  • Perform regular maintenance on your furnace. Change or clean the filters, and if necessary, call in a service professional to test the efficiency of your heating system.
  • Have your utility company perform an energy audit. Audits will provide you with an evaluation of your home's energy efficiency. Many companies offer this service at no charge. If you want to lower your heat bill and learn how you can save energy, this is a great start.
  • If you have an old boiler or furnace, you may want to install a more energy efficient heating system.
  • Don't waste hot water. On average, heating water accounts for 25% of the heat bill. Take quick showers and use cold or warm water to wash your clothes whenever possible.
  • Check your windows. Old leaky windows allow the cold air to come in and the warm air to escape. Over time, new windows could save you quite a bit of money in heating costs. If you don't have money to replace the windows, consider covering them in plastic. This is a cost-efficient way to cut down on drafts.
  • Check your doors. If necessary, replace weather stripping to prevent cold drafts.
  • Add insulation to your walls, crawlspace or attic space. Insulation helps to keep cold out and warmth in. If you have an older home, you may not have much insulation.
  • Close your fireplace damper when it is not in use. This will prevent heat from rising up your chimney and out of your house.

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